I thought of some other benefits working out has provided me: I don't sweat as much when I'm not working out. Not everyone has this problem to begin with, but having hyperhidrosis is incredibly embarrassing on a number of levels; it's unattractive, especially on a woman, it makes me feel disgusting and sometimes dirty, it limits the type of clothing I can wear.... its all-around just not fun. But I do find getting the sweat all out in one or two high intensity hours a day really helps curb it for the rest of the day.
Also, I've realized, I must have amped up my metabolism because I lost weight Monday to Monday, even though I wasn't going to the gym, and didn't really watch what I ate most of the week. This means that even sitting on my ass I am burning more calories than before, and who couldn't love that?!?
So I tried to work on my lower body today, and I found myself unmotivated to get going. I stopped to wonder why and realized it is because I don't have a lower body routine. I am more than a little hesitant to even attempt to work out my legs because they truly are large enough. I DO NOT want them getting any bigger, and shouldn't cardio for an hour a day be enough to get rid of the fat down there? I certainly hope so. Anyway, I decided I would switch the Arc for a recumbent bike today, because my workout buddy says it helps trim thighs. After that, instead of hopping on some machines, I went home and tried out a new phone on my app called "Butt Workout". From years of ballet, years ago, I still have rock hard glutes. I wasn't actually expecting this program to kick my butt, but let me tell you something: it was INTENSE! So there are 2 different workouts you can do with completely different exercises. Basically, it shows you the move and it gives you about 30 seconds to just do as many as you can and then you move on to the next one. Once you get to know them, you can switch them up and, using a timer, create your own intervals and cultivate your own ass whipping! It was my first time trying it, so I didn't record my reps in the time limit but here's what I did today:
Cardio: 45 minutes Recumbent bike. "Variety Mode" Resistances between 1 and 15. I went to the gym with the intention of getting on the escalator machine, but some 10 year old was on it horsing around, REGARDLESS of the sign on the front door which states that killdren under 15 years of age need to be supervised at all times. No parent was anywhere in sight. And since I'm beginning a rant, why are these little girls layering themselves in body sprays and lotions and whatnot before they go to the gym?!? And of all scents, Warm Vanilla Sugar?!? I like the smell as much as the next bath product junkie, but come on, it is stifling enough in those gyms, I don't need to be suffocated by sweet death. It's a good thing I'm not a sugar junkie, because that would just be downright malevolent.
Squats
Front Lunges
Side Lunges
Dead Lift
Donkey Kick Right
Donkey Kick Left
Hip Bridge
Leg Extensions
Flutter Kicks
Froggy Glute Lifts
I didn't use any dumbbells today because they were downstairs, and I was upstairs, and as you've probably already noticed, I was just plain lazy today :) Sit tight (not really) until I let you know what session 2 brings!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday: Upper Body @ Planet Fitness
So last week was probably NOT the best time to begin this workout journal since I had so many personal and social things going on. But I did manage to sneak in some yoga here and there and also I put some time into My Shape Fitness game on my XBox 360.
Today was my first real day back in a gym, and man could I tell! I couldn't do as high of reps as I was doing before, at least not as easily, but I finally, completed them. I also couldn't go as long on the Arc as I wanted. I was doing an hour "easy" (not exactly easy, but it felt good enough to push through) and today I was getting a little light headed so I got off and rested after 34 minutes.
Weight: 154.6
Cardio: 10 minutes warmup @ ~ 130-140 spm, One fast song @ 180 spm, one chill song @ ~ 130-140 spm, one fast song @ 180 spm, then pretty much chill @ 135 spm for the rest of about 10-14 minutes on the machine.
Fly 2 sets of 15 @ 40 lbs
Rear Delt 2 Sets of 15@ 10 lbs
Chest Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Pulldown 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Row 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Overhead Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Curl 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Arm Extension 2 Sets of 15 @ 10 lbs
Measurements:
Biceps 11"
Forearms 10"
Underbust 35"
Waist 32"
Hips 42"
Right Thigh 26", Left Thigh 25"
Right Calf 15", Left Calf 15.25"
Today was my first real day back in a gym, and man could I tell! I couldn't do as high of reps as I was doing before, at least not as easily, but I finally, completed them. I also couldn't go as long on the Arc as I wanted. I was doing an hour "easy" (not exactly easy, but it felt good enough to push through) and today I was getting a little light headed so I got off and rested after 34 minutes.
Weight: 154.6
Cardio: 10 minutes warmup @ ~ 130-140 spm, One fast song @ 180 spm, one chill song @ ~ 130-140 spm, one fast song @ 180 spm, then pretty much chill @ 135 spm for the rest of about 10-14 minutes on the machine.
Fly 2 sets of 15 @ 40 lbs
Rear Delt 2 Sets of 15@ 10 lbs
Chest Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Pulldown 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Row 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Overhead Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Curl 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Arm Extension 2 Sets of 15 @ 10 lbs
Measurements:
Biceps 11"
Forearms 10"
Underbust 35"
Waist 32"
Hips 42"
Right Thigh 26", Left Thigh 25"
Right Calf 15", Left Calf 15.25"
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday: Upper Body @ Planet Fitness
Weight: 158.0 lbs
Cardio: 1 hour on The Arc Cross Trainer
I played my workout playlist and went at a comfortable pace for one song (for me, between 120-140 strides per minute), then kicked it up a bunch for the next song (~180 spm) and continued like that for the first half hour. For the last half hour I maintained at a medium ranged pace of about 150 spm, but every once in a while I would "sit" as low as I could and basically duck walked. Crucial!
Weights:
Hip Abduction 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Hip Adduction 1 set of 15, 1 set of 10 @ 70 lbs
Fly 1 set of 15 @ 45 lbs, 1 set of 15 @ 40 lbs
Rear Delt 2 Sets of 15@ 10 lbs
Chest Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Pulldown 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Row 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Overhead Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Arm Extension 2 Sets of 15 @ 10 lbs
Other:
30 minutes of Yoga using my phone app: Pocket Yoga (Desert practice)
Measurements:
Biceps 11"
Forearms 10"
Underbust 36"
Waist 33.5"
Hips 41"
Right Thigh 26", Left Thigh 25"
Right Calf 15", Left Calf 15.5"
Cardio: 1 hour on The Arc Cross Trainer
I played my workout playlist and went at a comfortable pace for one song (for me, between 120-140 strides per minute), then kicked it up a bunch for the next song (~180 spm) and continued like that for the first half hour. For the last half hour I maintained at a medium ranged pace of about 150 spm, but every once in a while I would "sit" as low as I could and basically duck walked. Crucial!
Weights:
Hip Abduction 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Hip Adduction 1 set of 15, 1 set of 10 @ 70 lbs
Fly 1 set of 15 @ 45 lbs, 1 set of 15 @ 40 lbs
Rear Delt 2 Sets of 15@ 10 lbs
Chest Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Pulldown 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Row 2 sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Overhead Press 2 sets of 15 @ 30 lbs
Arm Extension 2 Sets of 15 @ 10 lbs
Other:
30 minutes of Yoga using my phone app: Pocket Yoga (Desert practice)
Measurements:
Biceps 11"
Forearms 10"
Underbust 36"
Waist 33.5"
Hips 41"
Right Thigh 26", Left Thigh 25"
Right Calf 15", Left Calf 15.5"
Willkommen
Hello! And welcome to my fitness blog! Let me set one thing straight: I have no idea what I am doing. I am not a trainer, I have not studied exercise whatsoever, I do not watch fitness shows on tv. What I do know is that I don't like where my body has ended up after a handful of years of not taking care of it. I used to dance, and I used to be very active. And then.... I just wasn't anymore. Most people in this part of their weight loss back story will say something like "Life happened" but I can't say that in my case. Nothing "happened" to me, I was very proactive in lessening my activity level. It wasn't a conscious thought to stop moving and start eating, but I was definitely aware of my growing pant size and felt apathetic toward taking steps to reverse it.
But that has changed. Since May 2nd of this year I have been walking my dog more often, going to the gym on a consistent basis, and have actively found ways to sneak exercise into my daily routine. Though I have only lost 1 measly pound during this time, the benefits are still overwhelming. My body has changed shape; not dramatically, but in the distribution of my weight throughout my body, and thus my clothes are hanging slightly looser. I have noticed my aggressive driving dissipate; I sleep deeper; my chicken wings have almost disappeared just by doing simple curls with 10-pound dumbbells in front of the tv! I still have a spare tire around my midsection, my thighs still touch and I am still too self-conscious to wear tank tops but I am well on my way to meeting my fitness goals!
But that has changed. Since May 2nd of this year I have been walking my dog more often, going to the gym on a consistent basis, and have actively found ways to sneak exercise into my daily routine. Though I have only lost 1 measly pound during this time, the benefits are still overwhelming. My body has changed shape; not dramatically, but in the distribution of my weight throughout my body, and thus my clothes are hanging slightly looser. I have noticed my aggressive driving dissipate; I sleep deeper; my chicken wings have almost disappeared just by doing simple curls with 10-pound dumbbells in front of the tv! I still have a spare tire around my midsection, my thighs still touch and I am still too self-conscious to wear tank tops but I am well on my way to meeting my fitness goals!
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